mokee



July 3, 192s. 1,675,948

- W. MC KE E CONVEYER Fillgd Oogn. 16, 1923 Sheets-Sheet 3 f n lul LEF

.sem ii INI/EN TOR.

ATTURNEYS. l

lliilllirm` Patented July 3, 1928.

iJNiTEn STATES PATENT oEFlcE.

'WILLIS MCKEE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO CENTRAL NATIONAL BANK 0F CLEVELAND.

CONVEYER.

Application filed October 16, 1923.

This invention relates to conveyors for intermittently transporting' elongated material thereeeross. llllorc particularly, my invention relates to conveyors of the type employed in hot beds which .term the subject matter et U. S. Letters latent, No. l,/l86,-

98st, issued to me on March 1S, 1924, wherein l have pointed out some ot' the problems which are incident to the design oit such structures. y

ln my former application l transport the hot material. across the bed by using two sets of supporting members, and provide mechanism which will cause one oit the sets to reciprocate .synchronously vertically and horizontally, thereby moving; such set of members in an elliptical orbit, relative to the other set ol' members during` each upper travel ot which set ot members, the material is transported across the bed, a distance equal to the horizontal anis ot the elliptical orbit travelled thereby. This mechanism can 1 be adjusted to cause the movable set of members lo travel a delinite distance in a toi-ward or rearward direct-ion, while in a plane above the other set ot' members, or to travel in a vertical plane without any horizontal movement. rlhere are times when I lind that it is desirable to regulate the length ot the above described forward or rearward travel ot the movable inen'ibers, such beingy the ease when rollingt millsfeedv material at varyingspeeds, \vl1eir\\'i(le ranges ot n'iaterial are fed Ytrom the rolling' mill, and when it is desired to increase the capacity o'lfv a given bed to handle a larger volume ot nlaterial.

in object oli my invention is to provide mechanism which can be readily adjusted to d e'linitely regulate the lengtl'] oil the horizontal axes of the elliptical orbit in `which a set ot supportingN .members is moved.

.illnother object of my invention is to provide mechanism which can be readily adjusted lo definitely control the length ot the horizontal axis ot the elliptical orbit in which a movable set oit supporting members will travel., when moving; in either a it'orward or rearward direction while above the level of the other set of supporting members.

Another object ot my invention is to provide a simple mechanisn'i for moving a set ot wort; supporting members continuously in an elliptical orbit, and in providing hand opr1.1 ti adir ting; means associated tlierew Serial No. 668,890.

for definitely controlling and regulating the length oi the horizontal axes ot the elliptical orbits in which the Supporting members are moved. Y

Another object et my invention resides in providing mechanism to synchronously reciprocate one set ot work supporting members vertically and horizontally, the mechanism including a Stephenson link which can beadjusted so that the movement oit the Set ot members may he readily varied to transport material across the bed in either a forward, or rearward direction, or to recipecate the material vertically without any horizontal movement` the movement of' the members being also controlled by the adjustment oit the Stephenson link, to denitely determine the distance the material is intermittently moved across the bed.

lt will be nndcrstoodthat the term Stephenson link as used in this specifica tion has been `used not in a limiting sense, but as descriptive ot .movements suitable to Vthe present invention, the Stephenson link and the movements obtainable therefrom being well known in the art.

i'lnother object oi my invention `is to di vide a movable set ot work supporting members into two transverse sections which are movable separately, and which are connected so that they eounterbalanee each other.

Another object ot .my invention resides in the provision ot mechanism `for moving each section ot n two part worlr supportingl set of members in sepa rate elliptical orbits, the horizontal axes oi' which are oil"v different lengths and are adjustable in such relation, whereby the material being moved across one part of the bed will progress at a slower rate ot speee thun that on the other part, and the rate at which the material travels on each part of the bed can be definitely regulated.

These and other objects, and the invention itself will appear in the following specification, and in the accompanying drawing wherein Figure l illustrates a plan view ot a hot bed, partially broken away, embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same illustrating `the mechanism for vertically re ciprocatingg the movable set of supporting members taken on line 2-2 of Fig.

Fir/nre il is a, fragmentary side elevation lll) ot mechanism including a Stephenson link for reciprocating the movable set of supporting members horizontally,taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Figure l is a fragmentary section taken on line l-t of F ig'. 1, illustrating the hand lever and locking means tor operating and setting the Stephenson link.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section taken on line 5-5 ot Fig. l illustrating the details of the Stephenson link.

Figure 6 is top plan view of modified form ot hot bed wherein the movable set of supporting members is shown in two connected parts.

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the samel taken on line TM? of Fig. 6 showing the mechanism for reciprocating the parts vertically.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 6 illustrating the Stephenson link for reciprocating the parts horizontally.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary section taken on line 9-Q of Fig. 6 illustrating the counterbalancing connection between the two parts of the movable set ot members.

Figure 1.() is a fragmentary view ot an adjustable counterbalancing arm, and

Fig. 11 is a section taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 1y illustrating the support for the stationary members and the manner in which the movable members are supported therebetween.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, 15 represents a plurality of supportingmembers having spaced upstanding supporting arms 16. The arms are arranged in alignment in longitudinal rows rand stationary work supporting members 17 are supported upon and secured to the upper aligned ends thereof. rEhe stationary siupporting members are spaced in parallel relation, and are termed herein as a stationary set ot supporting members, although thev also can be made to move so the movement oic the material across the bed will be continuous ii so desired. lli/lovable work supporting members 18, are arranged to extend longitudinally between the spaced stationary members, and are rigidly united integral together, as a set, by transversely extending Lbeams 1.9to which they are fastened in any suitable manner. It will thus be seen that the hot bed comprises alternate stationary and movable members which extend longitudinally, each group of which are termed a set of members. The movable set of members are of' greater ver* tical thickness than the stationary members, and are movable between the arms 1G supporting the stationary members.

A plurality ot supporting brackets 2O are secured to the foundation, intermediate adjacent standards, and are positioned in alignment near the ends ot the bed, or at a plurality ot points iii the bed is ot lgreat length. rlhese brackets are provided, in Figures 1 and 2, with biturcated upper ends, between which the angular portions o'lf bell crank levers 21 are pivotally secured at Q2. The horizontally extei'uling arms ot the bell crank levers project substantially beneath the l-beams 1S), and are connected thereto by links Q8 which are pivoted at Qfl to brackets projecting- 'from the beams 1S), and at Q5 to the ends ot the horizontal arms ol? (he bell cranks. rl`he levers 21 and the links Q3 provide pivoted supports Yfor the movable set oi work supporting members 18, through the connecting beams 1.9.

flhe stationary work supporting members and the alternately positioned movable work supporting members, together with their supports, are termed a hot bed. rl`he hot metal bars as they come trom the rolling mill, are deposited transversely across the supporting members at one end ot the bed and are ted intermittently across the bed by the movement ot the mov: ble set ot' members, (hiring which transportion the bars become cooled.

Adjacent the end oi the bed which rcceives the hot bars, as they come trom the rolling mill, is positioned a motor QG which is supported upon a suitable base, and a sl att 27 to which is keyed a worm Q8 is driven thereby. A casing QS) cncloses worm Q8 and supports a shaft 30 upon which is lixcd a worm g ar 31 and a gear 32, the worm gea r 31 meshing with. worm 2S. A, gear 2553 is liked to sha'tt 311, and all ot the gears are enclosed'by the casing 2f), the shai't 3l extending through the casing and being rotatably mounted in bearinge therein. 'lhis shaft 3st which is rotated by the motor, through gearingl within the casing, is also rotatably supported by spaced brackets IE5 in suitable bearings 36 intermediate its length. rlhe shal't 3l; entends substantially the length of the head, or receiving end o t the hot bed and is the medium by which the movable sel of work supporting members are moved.

Members C37 are tixcd cccentrically to the driven shalt 31.1, adjacent the bracket supports 35, and a two part yoke "Q is mounted UU around each eccentric member, so that when the shatt is rotated thc eccentric n'iembers will rotate within the yokcs thereby recip rocating the yokes horizontally during each rotation. Rods, composed ot sections Si) united by turnbuckles 40 screweifl on to the adjacent` ends thereof, extend longitiulinallv beneath the supporting members and are pivotally connected at 11 to the upper ends ot the aligned bell crank levers 21. The ends of the rods are xed to the yoke eollars 38, and the rods extend between the ned supports 16 and through 'vt `tical slots l2 formed in the transverse be.'Y .s 1Q The iso rotation of the members mounted eccentrically upon the shatt 34 causes the yokes 38 and the rods 39 to reciprocate in a horizontal direction, which rods in turn rock the bell crank levers 21 upon their pivots 22 causing the links H3 to vertically reciprocate the beams 19 and the supporting members carried thereby.

A pair of members 43 and 44 are fixed eccentrically to the shaft 34, adjacent. the gear 33 and just outside olf the casing 29. These eccentrically mounted members are arranged side by side and are encircled by two part bearing); yokes 45 and 46 respectively, withlin which they rotate. Arms 47 and 48 eX tend relatively radially from the yokes 45 and 46 respectively, and are formed integrally with one part thereof, the eccentric members being mounted at 180O to each other in ollset relation upon the shaft to cause the radial relation ol the arms. The ends ot the arms are pivotally connected to opposite ends ot an arcuate member 49, which has an arcuate slot 50 therein. A bmring;` block 51 is slidably mounted in the slot 50 and a biturcated end 52, ot a rod 53, is pivotally attached to the block 51. Such structure is well known as a- Stephenson link connection. The lower end ot the arcuate member is hinged by a link 54 to one end of a lever 55, which has a wei ght 56 secured at the opposite end thereof. This lever is fixed to a shat't 5T which is rotatably mounted in bearings in the supports 35, in a plane below the shaft 34. A hand lever 58 is lined to shaft 57 and by moving the hand lever up or down, the member 49 ot the Stephenson link is moved likewise through the lever and the link 54. Vhen the member 50 is in desired position the hand lever can be locked by a pin, or other suitable means to the lguard bracket 59. The counter weight lessens the eliort required by the operator to move the hand lever.

The rody 53 pivotally connected at 6() to the liront transverse beam 19 forming a` part or" the movable set of members, and a support 61 is provided intermediate the beam 19 and the Stephenson joint, having a bearing 62 pivoted thereto at G8, the shaft 53 being: slidably mounted through the bearing` 62. Under the well known principle et the Stephenson link, the rod 53 is reciprocated horizontally when the block 51 is positioned ou either side ot the center of 'the slot 50, and when the block is positioned centrally of the ends ot the slot the rod 53 will stand still, although the driving mechanism is still operating, and the moving set of supporting,r members continue to move vertically.

The Stephenson link connection reciprocatingthe movable set of members horizontally, and the rods 39 reciprocatino the movable set ot members Vvertically are both operated by yokes mounted eccentrically upon the shaft 34. thereby operating synchronously, causing the movable set of members to move in an elliptical orbit. The supports 'for the movable set of members are so arranged that the movable set of members will be extended in a plane above the stationary members during a portion of their movement, and will lie in a plane below the stationary members during the remainder otl the movement. The eccentrics 37 and 43 are so arranged that when a. movable set of members has reached the end ot its travel in a horizontal direction` the set ot members is in the center otl its travel in a vertical direction and vice versa. As the movable set et members rises `from the level ot the stationary set of members, they will elevate the material trom the stationary members and transport it the length of the horizontal axis of their elliptical movement, whereupon the material is again deposited upon and supported by the. stationary members until the movable mem bers complete their lower elliptical move ment and again raise the material, repeating the operations until the material is in desired position upon the bed.

The vertical reciprocation of the movable set of members is continuous while the driven shaft is rotating, but the Stephenson link permits the travel ot the movable members above the stationary members to be in either a forward or rearward direction and the lower travel vicel versa, when the block 51 is adjusted on either one or the other side of the middle of the member 49. Willen the block 51 is place-d midway of the ends of the slot, the movable member will not reciprocate longitudinally, and will reciprocate vertically only.` in which manner the material on the bed will not progress longitudinally but will be raised and lowered by the movable members. The degree to which the block 51 is moved in the slot 5() between the center and the ends will delinitcly determine the length ot the longitudinal reciprocation of the movable oli members when traveling in either a 'forward or reverse direction above the stationary memliers. and consequently the nearer the block is to the center of the slot 50. the shorter will be 4the longitudinal axis of the elliptical orbit travelled thereby. It will be seen that the hand lever 58 which is moved up or down to regulate the position ot the member 49 relative to the block 51, can be operated and the adjustment marde while the mechanism is in motion, thereby permitting the operator to regulate the direction in which the material. is moved. on the hot bed, and the lenqth o't such movement, and permitting' him to arrest the longi tudinal movement entirely. It desired a motor may be provided to throw the Stephenson link to adjust the same. lt is well known that the speed at which a given mill rolls a given product varies greaflzly and also that ditlierent products on a given mill occupy greatly different space; these facts make this regulation very desirable.

rlhc positive control and regulation ot the longitudinal movement of the movable set of members, will permita maximum amount ot' material to be transported in a given space, will keep material straight because ot the shitting supports which prevents sagging zmdvbending, ot the material thercbetweem will allow the pieces ot material to bc spaced as desired., or banked together tor annealing, and will permit a wide rance of dil'erentmaterials to be handled. The apparatus is easily repaired, can be constructed cheaply, and is ot simple construction tor the class ot work it performs.

In Figs. 7 to l() inclusive. l have illustrated a modified form ot the hot bed, wherein the movable set oit werk supporting` meinbers are divided transversely in two s ions. lVhen rails or similar het bars are Yted onto the bed from the rolling` mill,A they are cambei'ed, and as they cool while beingmoved across the hot bed they become can'ibered in the opposite ydirection atter which they become straight. The degree ot camber becomes less as the material is transported toward the delivery end of the bed and 'l lind that in this class of work it is desirable to move the movable set oit members so that the delivery section ot the movable member will have less horizontal movement than the re- 'eeiving` end, permitting` the material to be spaced closer together 'on the delivery end, and thereby increasing the capacity of' the bed. rillhe movable sections of supporting;r members are heavy and I mount, and connect the sections, so that they substantially connterbalance each other.

In this modilied form of bed the driven shatt- 34: is located transversely beneath the bcdand is driven and supported in substantially the same manner as in the previously described embodiment ot my invention. The stationary work supporting' members and their supports are the same in both embodiments. rlhe movable work supporting membersare located in the same relation as previously described, but are divided transversely in two sections. the ends of which overlap to provide continuons members. and are arranged so that they can move relative to each other.l Each of the transverse sections ot the movable set of members is connected by a pair of transversely extendingr beams 19 and is secured thereon. The supports 2O in this instance are located in the same manner as previously described, but are provided with tulcrums upon which the bell crank levers 21 are pivotally supported. Similar fulcrums7l are provided upon the ends ot' the horizontal arms ot the bell crank levers, and the beams 19 are also provided with itiilcrnms 72. The links extend between the tulcrums 7l and 72 and support the sections ot the movable set o t members for similar movei'nent as hereinbcfore described.

A member 74 is eccentrically secured upon the shaft 34 and is rotatably mounted in the yoke 75. Rods 7G extend troni cach side ot this collar and are pivotally connected lo adjacent bell crank levers supporting the two Sets. The bell crank levers supporting; each section ot movable members are connected by rods 39 in the same manner as inevirnislv described. rllhe rotation o'l' the eccentric member will rock the bell crank levers which in turn vertically reciprocate the sections ot the movable set ot members` the ari-anni`- ment being such that as one section is moved up, the other section moves down.

The Stephenson link connection is associated with the movable set ot members and the shalft 34 in the same manner as previously described, and is also adjusted in the saine manner, the shatt- 57 being in a plane beneath the shaft 84k.

Angular links 77 are pivoted at 7S to adjacent beams i9 of the two .sections ot movable members and are adjustably secured lo one arm ot thebell crank levers 79. Supporting4 brackets 8O are positioned :uliaccnt each other and the bell crank levers 79 are pivotcd thereto7 the bell crank levers beine' provided with gear segments Si which mesh when assembled. This connection between the two sections of the movable set o'lE memberscauses one to counterbalance the other and provides a connection whereby the movement ot one will at all times correspondingly move the other at the same relative ratio, thus when the Stephenson link reeiprocates one ot the sections the other sec tion will also be reciprocated. Vl'lhe `'ear arrangement is such, however, as to cause a shorter horizontal reciprocalion ot the scction at the delivery end ol! the bed. than that at the receiving end thereof.

-Vith this arrangen'ient. the two section: are moved in separate elliptical orbits. the horizontal axis ot the orbit in which th(` dclivery section travels being .shorter (han that ot the receiving` section. but always. being); a percentage of the travel ot the receiving' end. rThe relative movement ot the two sections is such that when one .section is rising' il is preferable that the other section will bc dropping so that the two sections can conn terbalance each other; and while one section is traveling forward the other section will be travelinrg in the opposite direction. Va riation in the effective length ot levers 7 Sli :1s by securing' lever 77 thereto in various positions as shown in Figs. 9 and l0. results in varying correspondingly the relative horizontal. movements oit the sections.

ln this modified structure the Stephenson .linl will iti'nction to control the inoffrrernte of each of the tWo sections of the set of movable members, just as it did With the single set previously described, the connection with one causing the other to function through the geared connection,

The term Stephenson link connection or motion as employed in the specification and claims herein is intended to include the well .known apparatus commonly called a Stephenson link or connection and any and all other apparatus operating in substantially the same manner or accomplishing substantially the same result as the Stephenson link.

Various changes in the details ot construction described can be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and the scope of the claims.

lli/hat l claim is 1. A conveyer comprising tivo sets of Work supporting members, mechanism for intermittently moving one of said sets oi' members longitudinally in a curving course above the other of said sets of members, and means operable during movement o'f the movable members for adjusting said mechanism to vary the length of the movement of said set ol members.

2. A conveyer comprising two sets of Work supporting members, adjustable mechanism ttor intermittently moving one of said sets oit members in either a forward or rear- Ward direction above the other of said sets of members, and means 'tor regulating said mechanism to definitely adjust the length ot movement of said set of members in either direction While in operation.

3. A hot bed comprising two sets of Work supporting members, one of said sets of members being movable relative to the other, means for imparting vertical reciprocating movement to said movable set of members, and means for synchronously imparting horizontal reciprocating movement to said movable set of members, said last mentioned means being adjustable during movement of the movable members for delinitely regulating the length of the horizontal movement of said movable set of members.

a. A hot bed comprising tvvo sets of Work supporting members, one of said sets ot' members being movable relative to the other, means for imparting vertical reciprocating movement to said movable set of members, means for imparting horizontal reciprocating movement to said movable set of mem]- bers during the vertical movement thereot, and means movable during the movement oi: the movable members for adjusting said last mentioned means to vary the length of the horizontal movement of said movable set oi' members.

5. In a hot bed having a stationary set of Work supporting members, and a movable set of Work supporting members, the combination'of means for imparting vertical reciprocating movement to said movable set of members, and a Stephenson link connection for imparting a variable horizontal reciprocating movement to said movable set of members synchronously with the vertical reciprocation thereof.

G. A hot bed comprising a plurality of work supporting members, one of which sets of members is movable relative to the other, and means tor imparting elliptical movement to said movable set of members, said set of members travelling above the other set during a portion of its elliptical movement, said means being adjustable during movement of the movable members to vary the horizontal movement of said movable member.

7. In a hot bed upon which linear materials are placed side by side and caused to progress from the receiving side to the delivery side thereof, alternate stationary and movable members secured together in sets and adapted to support said linear material, and means to impart elliptical movement to said set of movable members, said movable members travelling in a plane above said stationary members during a portion of their elliptical movement to intermittently progress said linear' material, said means including adjustable mechanism movable during movement of the movable members for varying the length of the horizontal elliptical movement of said movable members to vary the speed at which said material is moved and the quantity of material which can be handled by said bed.

8. A hot bed comprising a plurality oi sets of Work supporting members, and means for moving one ot' said sets ot members in an elliptical orbit, a portion of which movement is in a plane above the other of said sets of members, said means being adjustable during movement ol the movable members to vary the length of the horizontal axis of the elliptical orbit in Which said set of members is moved.

9. A hot bed comprising a pair of sets of Work supporting members, means for moving one of said sets of members in an elliptical orbit, said means being adjustable While in motion to vary the amplitude oit' the horizontal axis of the elliptical orbit in which said set of members is moved.

l0. A hot bed comprising a pair of sets ot Work supporting members, and means for moving one of said sets of members in an elliptical orbit relative to the other, said means being adjustable during movement of the movable members to deinitely regulate the length of the horizontal axis ol' each elliptical orbit in Which said set of members is moved.

ll. A hot bed comprising tvvo sets ot Work supporting members, and driving means including a Stephenson link connection for moving one ot said sets of members in an elliptical orbit relative to the other oit said sets oir members, said Stephenson link connection being used to detinitely regulate the length of the horizontal axis ot the elliptical orbit travelled by said members and to reverse the direction of the travel of said member.

12A hot bed comprising two sets o1L Workr supporting members, and driving means including a Stephenson link connected to one o' said sets ot' members, said linl; being adjustable to selectively cause said members With which it is connected to either move vertically or in an elliptical orbit, the length ofthe horizontal axis of the ellipti- Y cal orbit, and the direction travelled by said members being controlled by the adjustment of said link'.

13.`A hot bed comprising two sets of lWork supporting members, one oit' said sets comprising a plurality ot sections movable relative lto each other and to the other set of members', and means tor moving each ot the plurality of sections in separate ellipti- Vcal orbits ot dill'erent lengths.

liet. A hot bed comprising two sets of Work supporting` members, one ot said sets being divided transversely into a plurality of movable sections, counterbalancing mechanism connecting saidv adjoining sections, means for moving each of said sections in 'an elliptical orbit, and means movable during movement ot' the said movable members for changing the horizontal lengths of the said orbits. i` l5. A hot bed comprising a set of stationary Work supporting members, a set ol movable ivorlr'supporting members, said movable set of membersbeing transversely di- 'videdl into integral sections. said sections being connected and mounted to counterbalance each other, means tor moving said parts of said movable set of members in ellipticalorbits of a relatively constant ratio, and means movable during movement oit the said movable members for changing the horizo'ntallengths of the said orbits.

16.v A hot i bed comprising tivo sets ot' work supportingmembers being formed as two"aligned vconnected sections, mechanism for moving each ot said sections in separate elliptical orbitsy the horizontal axes ot which are diierent, and means lor adjusting said mechanism to definitely control the length of the axes or' the elliptical orbits in which said parts are moved.`

17. A hot bed comprising a set of stationary Work supporting members, a movable set rof `Worksupporting members divided into tvvo aligned sections, a pair of intermeshing gear segments connecting said divided sections, vandmeans for moving said parts in separate elliptical orbits, said divided parts being mounted to counterbalance each other and to travel in a lixed ratio one to the other.

1S. A hot bed comprising a set ot stationary work supporting members, a movable set oi? Work supporting members divided into two aligned sections, mechanism il'or moving each olf said sections in separate elliptical orbits ot a lined relative ratio, said mechanism being adjustable to vary the longitudinal travel ot said sections.

ll). A hot bed comprising \\'orl\Y supporting members, mechanism it'or intermittently n'ioving material across said bed, and means for regulating the distance ot the intermittent moven'ients oit the material while the moving mechanism is in motion.

20. fr hot bed comprising sets oi 'work supporting members. one ot said olf members being movable relative to the other, mechanism 'for imparting elliptical movement to said movable set ot' members, and means operable While the moving members are in motion tor changing the horizontal axis ot said elliptical movement trom a maximum length to any other length less than the maximum length.

2l. It bot bed con'iprising ivorlr support:- ing members, mechanism tor moving material intermittently in semi-elliptical orbits across said bed, and means operable ivhile the moving members are in motion tor varying the length ot the horizontal axis o t the semi-elliptical orbits in which tht` material is moved.

22. A hot bed comprising sels oll vrork supporting members, mechanism lor moving one oitmembcrs in a semi-elliptical orbit above the other members, and means operable vfhile the moving'members are in inotion for regulating the horizontal axis ol' the semi-elliptical orbit in which said member is moved.

Q3. A hot bed cinnprising a plurality oi Worl( supporting members arramred in sets, one ot said sets being divided into connected sections, mechanism Vi'or moving cach ol' said sections intermittently in separate semi-elliptical orbit; above the other members7 the mot-ion ol" one section above the other mem-- bers terniinating as the motion olf the adliacent section above the other members begins, and means movable during the movement oit the said sections tor changing the lengths oli' horizontal movement, ot thesaid sections above the supporting members.

Q-l. ln a conveyor, stationary elements 'or supporting material, sections olf clliptically movable elements arranged longitudinally for interniittently carrying the material longitudinally along said stationary elements. the distances the material is intermittently carried by one oit said movalne sections being a predetermined igiercentage oli the distances the material is carried by the other lill lli?) llb movable sections, and means operable during movement of the movable members for changii'ig the horizontal distances olf intermittent travel of the material.

25. il. hot bed including a plurality of longitudinally arranged sets oit cooperating movable and stationary elements, said movable elements carrying materialv intermit tently predetermined distances lengthwise across the bed, and means il'or regulating the operation ol both movable sets ol elements to cause them to carry the material rela- 'tively ditl'erent distances which are a predetermined percentage olf each other.

2G. A conveyer comprising a stationary member, and continuously moving means lor intermittently advancing Work blanks simultaneously and at two ditl'erent rates of speed along the stationary member, drive means mo able at a given speed :t'or actuating the said moving means, and means in dependent of the drive means for changing the rates o'l' speed of movement of work blanks along the stationary members.

A cou'veyer conniirising a stationary member, continuously movingl means ttor intermittently advancing work blanks simultaneously and at two di'll'crent rates olE speed alongthe stationary member, drive means for actuating the said moving means, and means independent oit the drive means for varying the rates of speed ol'I movement of the work blanks without altering the origi-L nal ratio between the said rates of speed thereof.

28. A conveyer comprising in combination stationary members l'or supporting work blanks, and means, including movable members disposed in a plane or planes parallel to the tops of the said stationary members for intern'iittently carrying Work blanks along difterent parts of the stationary me1nbers through different distances ot actual travel oi the Work blanks in the same time intervals oli actual travel thereof.

29. A conveyer comprisingin combination, stationary members for supporting Work blanks, movable members disposed in a plane or planes parallel to the tops oit the stationary members for carrying Work blanks along the stationary members in intermittent steps and a power device for actuating the movable members through a cycle at a given speed, the movable members cooperating with the stationary members in such a manner that the Work blanks travel at a certain speed along a given part ol the stationary members which part is greater in length than the distance travelled by the.

- mammella,

blanks in any single intermittent step, and at another speed along` another similar part ol the said stationary members.

30. A conveyor comprising in combination stationary members for supporting Work bl ants, movable members :tor intermittently carrying vvork blanks along the stationary members, and a poner device l'or actuating the movable members through a cycle in a given time, the movable members cooperan ing with the stationary members to carry Work blanks along did'erent parts of the stationary members through dili'erent distances ol actual travel olf the Work blanks in a given cycle ot the movable members.

3l. A. hot bed comprisiiig lined and movable supports, the movablesupports being divided transversely ol thehot bed into a plurality ol` sections, means for imparting elliptical movement to the two sections adjacent to each other, the horizontal axis oit which movement is substantially parallel with the top surfaces off the lined supports, means for varying the amplitude of movement or the said sections above the lixed supports, and means operable during the movement of the movable supports lor changing the lengt-hs oit horizontal movement ot the said movable sections.

32. A conveyer including` two sets of Work supporting members, one ot the said sets being movable, a drive shaft -for actuating the said movable set oit members, and means independent ol' the said drive shalt for changing the horizontal length of movement of the set of movable members and reversing the direction et movement o'l the said set oit movable members.

In a conveying mechanism, the combination of a trame, bars sustained fiXedly relatively to the frame to support the articles to be conveyed, two sets of movable bars associated with the fixed bars to advance the articles thereon and supported from said lrame to move up and down and horizontally endwise, operating means 'for said movable bars, connections between said operating means and the two sets of movable bars termed to move them up and down, and connections bet-Ween the operating means and the respective sets of bars formed to move the tivo relatively different distances horizontally, said tivo movements being coordinated with each other to cause the bars to move` in orbital paths.

ln testimony ivherecl l hereunto atlix my sigiiat-ure this llth day of October, 1923.

WILLIS MCKEE. 

